New principal takes over at Powell Middle School

Hernando County School District leaders have been busy making changes this summer that will have some students seeing familiar faces in new places.

The latest changes involve Lisa Piesik, who will take over as principal at Powell Middle School and Dawn Williams, who becomes assistant principal at Nature Coast Technical High School.

Piesik, 41, is no stranger to Powell Middle School. She was assistant principal there for two years before going to Eastside Elementary last year.

Piesik has a long history in Hernando County education, beginning as a para-professional at Pine Grove Elementary in 2001 then moving to Powell to assist with the MicroSociety in 2002 and leading the MicroSociety in 2007. She was the assistant principal from 2011-2013.

“I’m really excited to be back home,” she said.

Williams, 50, who has been walking the halls of Nature Coast Technical High School for more than four years as the assessment teacher, is now the acting assistant principal.

“Nature Coast is my home,” she said.

Williams began her career in education as a teacher of history and psychology at Hernando High School in 1998. She moved to elementary education at Spring Hill Elementary and gained experience working with younger children.

But she found her home at Nature Coast in 2009 and will become a strong part of the administration.

“There is more responsibility,” she said, particularly during off school hours.

As assistant principal, Williams is required to enhance the safety of the student body by attending after-school events and working with disciplinary activities to ensure a safe learning environment.

“If they aren’t feeling safe, they aren’t learning,” she said.

Williams is embracing her new position. “I’m very excited to become a vital part of the cohesive body of the administrative team,” she said.